Application Compendium for Environmental Testing

Importance of Environmental Analysis

Environmental testing of air, soil, and water is critical for safeguarding public health, preserving ecosystems, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Reliable detection of organic and inorganic contaminants supports pollution monitoring, drinking water safety, soil remediation, and response to environmental incidents. Advances in analytical methods help laboratories achieve higher sensitivity and robustness to address emerging pollutants and stricter regulatory limits.

Goals and Overview of the Compendium

This compendium compiles application-focused protocols and performance data for a wide range of analytes in air, soil, and water. Its objectives are:

• To present validated workflows covering sample collection, preparation, and analysis.
• To support selection of the most suitable techniques—GC, LC, MS, ICP, spectroscopy—for specific matrices and target compounds.
• To illustrate compliance with major environmental regulations and methods, such as US EPA standards.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Key analytical approaches include gas chromatography (GC, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS), liquid chromatography (LC, LC/MS, LC/MS/MS), and spectroscopic methods (ICP-OES, ICP-MS, MP-AES, FTIR). Sample preparation techniques range from headspace and thermal desorption to solid-phase extraction (SPE) and automated clean-up workbenches. Emphasis is placed on cryogen-free systems, online SPE, high-throughput workflows, and matrix interference reduction.

Used Instrumentation

Representative instruments and technologies featured in the compendium include:

• Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC with 5977A Series MSD and JetClean source cleaning
• 7000 and 9000 Series QQQ GC/MS/MS systems
• 1290 Infinity and 1200/1290 Infinity LC platforms with online SPE modules
• 6490 and 6495 QQQ LC/MS systems with iFunnel and Jet Stream technology
• 6550 Q-TOF LC/MS for accurate-mass screening
• Agilent 710-ES, 725-ES, 730-ES ICP-OES and 7700x, 7900, 8800 ICP-MS/ICP-QQQ
• Cary 630 FTIR and Cary Eclipse fluorescence spectrometers
• 7696A Sample Prep WorkBench for automated extraction and cleanup

Main Results and Discussion

Applications demonstrate:

• Sub-ppt detection limits for pharmaceuticals, pesticides, nitrosamines, and per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances using LC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS.
• Robust quantitation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatiles (PAHs, PCBs, phenols) by thermal desorption GC/MS and SPE-LC/MS workflows.
• Accurate-mass screening of emerging contaminants and transformation products with Q-TOF MS.
• High throughput trace metal analysis in soils and waters by ICP-MS and ICP-OES following EPA 200-series methods.
• Matrix-tolerant, cryogen-free air monitoring of VOCs, sulfur compounds, and air toxics using sorbent tubes and automated TD systems.

Benefits and Practical Applications

This compendium enables environmental laboratories to:

• Select optimized, validated methods to meet regulatory requirements and quality standards.
• Reduce analysis time and cost through automation, online enrichment, and streamlined workflows.
• Achieve lower detection limits and improved data reliability with advanced detectors and source-cleaning technologies.
• Adapt protocols for diverse matrices—from drinking water and wastewater to contaminated soils and ambient air.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions in environmental analysis include:

• Greater use of high-resolution and accurate-mass instruments for non-target screening of unknown pollutants.
• Integration of online sample preparation and hyphenated techniques for real-time monitoring.
• Advances in single particle ICP-MS for nanoparticle characterization in environmental samples.
• Automation and digital data analytics, including AI-driven interpretation and predictive modeling.

Conclusion

The Agilent Application Compendium provides an extensive resource of proven analytical solutions for environmental testing. By offering detailed protocols, instrument configurations, and performance metrics, it guides laboratories in achieving reliable, high-quality results across air, soil, and water matrices, while addressing evolving regulatory and technological challenges.

Reference

Agilent Technologies. Application Compendium for Environmental Testing. Publication 5991-5361EN. 2017.